United States and Israel Launch Joint Military Offensive Against Iran in Operation Epic Fury

In a massive escalation of global tensions, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated, large-scale military offensive against Iran early Saturday morning, February 28, 2026.

Dubbed Operation Epic Fury by the United States and Operation Roaring Lion by Israel, the campaign commenced at 1:15 am with significant airstrikes across multiple Iranian cities, including the capital city of Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump described the mission as major combat operations aimed at neutralizing nuclear capabilities and ballistic missile infrastructure while calling on the Iranian people to seize control of their destiny and overthrow the current leadership.

The initial wave of precision strikes targeted critical government centers, air defense systems, and military command bunkers. Officials confirmed that the opening salvo resulted in the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei alongside several senior political and operational figures, including the defense minister and top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In response, the IRGC announced the initiation of retaliatory measures, launching waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting regional assets, including U.S. military installations and maritime corridors across the Middle East.